DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT
APPLICATION FOR
UPLAND SIGNIFICANT WILDLIFE HABITAT VERIFICATION AND/OR DELINEATION
AND
UPLAND ESSENTIAL WILDLIFE HABITAT VERIFICATION
The attached application is to be completed for the on-site evaluation of property regarding upland
Significant
1
and Essential
2
Wildlife Habitat as defined in the County’s Land Development Code. The
application addresses three (3) evaluation activities consisting of the verification of Significant Wildlife
Habitat. In order to differentiate between the three evaluation activities, the following description is
provided:
1) Verification of upland Significant Wildlife Habitat
consists of an on-site evaluation to confirm
the presence of upland Significant Wildlife Habitat. Properties within Hillsborough County may
or may not contain natural plant communities which qualify as Significant Wildlife Habitat.
When conducting a verification evaluation County staff will make observations regarding the
existence, type, size, quality and location of the Significant Wildlife Habitat. Based on these
observations, a determination will be rendered to the applicant in writing.
2) Delineation of upland Significant Wildlife Habitat
consists of an on-site evaluation to identify the
boundaries of upland Significant Wildlife Habitat including both mesic (moderately moist) and
xeric (dry) plant communities comprising the habitat area. Mesic communities include dry
prairies, pine flatwoods, and mesic hammocks. Xeric communities are sandhills, sand pine scrub,
xeric oak scrub, scrubby flatwoods, and xeric hammocks. To identify the boundaries of the xeric
and mesic habitats, a sols index map will be utilized in addition to a vegetative analysis.
3) Verification of upland Essential Wildlife Habitat
consists of an on-site evaluation to confirm the
presence of Essential Wildlife Habitat. Essential Wildlife Habitat will be presumed to occur on
site whenever a (1) listed animal species has been previously documented on site, or (2) actual
observation of listed plant and animal species or evidence of the listed species has been identified,
or (3) the habitat itself or in combination with off-site lands meet the minimum habitat needs for a
viable population of the listed species. Upon confirmation of the presence of Essential Wildlife, a
written response to the applicant will be provided to identify the species noted and identify other
pertinent information to satisfy Essential Wildlife Habitat provisions of the Land Development
Code.
Please contact the Natural Resources Section of the Planning and Growth Management Department at
813-272-5920 for further information.
1
Significant Wildlife Habitat is defined as contiguous stands of natural plant communities which have the potential to
support healthy and diverse populations of wildlife and which have been identified on the Game and Freshwater Fish
Commission’s natural systems and land use cover inventory map.
2
Essential Wildlife Habitat is defined as land or water bodies which, through the provision of habitat, are necessary to
maintain populations of endangered or threatened species, or species of special concern.
